Tower Hamlets Throws It Back To The Day England Won The World Cup

“They think it’s all over! It is now!!”. Those famous words from Kenneth Wolstenholme’s BBC commentary have lived long in the memories of many who witnessed England winning the world cup on that famous day on the 30th July 1966. However for those living with Dementia this moment may seem all but a forgotten memory.

“The Wayback” is a virtual reality film series designed for those living with dementia and their carers. Recreating positive moments from the past, it takes viewers back in time to trigger memories and spark precious conversations. “By watching The Wayback, you can be there in a second… remembering the party you went to, the cakes you ate, the dress you wore… it is a fantastic validation of feeling alive still” (Dr David Sheard, Founder Dementia Care Matters). The Wayback is a new way to trigger intact memories and stimulate conversations about them. It can help improve the connection between people with dementia and their families and carers – which in turn can improve the level of care they receive and quality of life.

For the next reality film in the series, Thomas Thomas Films, were looking to recreate a day on July 30th 1966, the day England won the World Cup. When the Tower Hamlets Film Office, managed by The Film Office, were contacted back in March by the production looking to find a period street to close and dress, we were all too happy to facilitate this fantastic shoot and great cause. The production were using a large VR camera to shoot the scene so the street had to be dressed right in order to match the period continuity. Matlock Street and Barnes Street, located a stones throw from Limehouse station, was the choice location as it has minimal modern architecture and signage, and was an easily controllable close-able intersection.

Angus Light, the Location Manager on the job said “It was a truly fantastic project to be involved with. It’s very rare that a production comes along that ticks all of the following boxes: a strong creative concept, thats technically challenging, with a great team of people and ultimately for a fantastic cause. It’s a pleasure to tell others about The Wayback project and has been a privilege to be part of making it. Although not without its challenges Barnes Street & Matlock Street ended up working really well for us. Really looking forward to seeing the final results!”.

With a shoot of this size and scale, consultation is key to minimise the impact on local residents. Jacob Hughes-Rodgers, The Film Officer on the shoot said “The production were professional and friendly throughout the process and it was fantastic to see all the hard work over the past month come to fruition on the day. There are almost 1 million people living with Dementia in the UK and projects like these can have a long lasting affect on individuals, improving their quality of lives and raising awareness of the disease. As a gesture of thanks for the high-impact the shoot had in the area the production very generously donated to The Alzheimer’s Society . It’s great that such a fantastic project like this can have an impact from the top down and I can’t wait to see what the end result will be!”

Trent Simpson from the production said “Tower Hamlets Film Office have been amazing both creatively and logistically. They provided a wealth of knowledge in regards to hitting our brief and gaining the right permissions under a very reduced schedule”.

For more information regarding The Wayback please visit the website here.

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